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Jury’s out on the solution to shoddy defamation laws

Brenda Power

If the justice minister were serious about reforming the defamation laws, rather than just appearing to do so, there’s a number of effective options that would change the entire libel landscape at the stroke of a pen. She could get rid of juries. Alternatively, she could get rid of juries. Another useful move would be to get rid of juries. Or she could just get rid of juries.

If you are unfortunate enough to suffer that most mysteriously intractable of modern maladies, a soft tissue whiplash injury, your case will be heard by a judge sitting alone. A jury of 12 members of the public is not thought necessary to consider why some accidents seem to have far more debilitating consequences when they happen on…

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